Game board with movably attached pieces

ABSTRACT

A game of strategy designed to be played by two players includes a playing board and a series of playing pieces displaceable relative to the board from a first playing position and to a second playing position. The playing pieces are preferably small metal balls which are retained in parallel grooves in the first playing position and which are displaceable into a like series of pockets which are located in the second playing position. Each groove is of a different length and contains a different number of balls. The total complement of balls associated with the board may be an odd or an even number. In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangement of the board is designed to provide a sufficient number of groupings, and variations in the number of playing pieces in each grouping, so that the game is both challenging and attractive. Of course, the number of grooves and the number of playing pieces contained within each groove may be varied without affecting the method of play or the object of the game. Preferably, the grooves and pockets slope downwardly from their junctures for causing the balls to be biased by gravity into either the first or second playing positions. In playing the game, the players take alternate turns with each player being permitted during his turn to displace as many balls as he wishes from whichever one of the grooves he chooses into the pocket associated therewith. The object of the game is for each player to select the number of balls displaced during his turn in such a manner as to require his opponent to displace the last ball remaining in all of the grooves into its pocket when his turn comes. A variation of the game may be played with the same rules, except that the winner is determined as the player who plays the last ball.

United States Patent [1 1 Mellor [111 3,814,433 June4, l9 74 41 GAME BOARD WITH MOVABLY ATTACHED PIECES [76] Inventor: Harrison Clay Mellor, 194

Providence Rd, Newtown Square, Pa. 19144 221 Filed: May4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 357,245

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1883 Sackett 273/132 1,206,054 11/1916 Trull 273/153 S UX 3,706,457 12/1972 Gonzaleset al. 273/153 S FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,457,433 9/1966 France 273/130 R Primary E.raminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant E.raminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howson & Howson; Stanley B. Kita [57] ABSTRACT A game of strategy designed to be played by two players includes a playing board and a series of playing pieces displaceable relative to the board from a first playing position and to a second playing position. The playing pieces are preferably small metal balls which are retained in parallel grooves in the first playing position and which are displaceable into a like series of pockets which are located in the second playing position. Each groove is of a different length and contains a different number of balls. The total complement of balls associated with the board may be an odd or an even number. In the illustrated embodiment. the arrangement of the board is designed to provide a sufficient number of groupings, and variations in the number of playing pieces in each grouping, so that the game is both challenging and attractive. Of course, the number of grooves and the number of playing pieces contained within each groove may be varied without affecting the method of play or the object of the game. Preferably, the grooves and pockets slope downwardly from their junctures for causing the balls to be biased by gravity into either the first or second playing positions. In playing the game, the players take alternate turns with each player being permitted during his turn to displace as many balls as he wishes from whichever one of the grooves he chooses into the pocket associated therewith. The object of the game is for each player to select the number of balls displaced during his turn in such a manner as to require his opponent to displace the last ball remaining in all of the grooves into its pocket when his turn comes. A variation of the game may be played with the same rules, except that the winner is determined as the player who plays the last ball.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GAME BOARD WITH MOVABLY ATTACHED PIECES The present invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly, the present invention relates to games of strategy which are designed to be played by two players.

Various amusement devices which are capable of being played by one or more persons are known. Examples of such devices are disclosed in the following US. Pat. Nos.: 600,755; 1,206,054; 2,778,639; 3,074,721; and 3,630,525. Although each of the amusement devices disclosed in these patents may provide a satisfactory amusement function, there is always a demand for novel games which are challenging to play by either children or adults. Moreover, challenging games which are of simple and durable construction and which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture are highly desirable.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel game device which is'challenging to play while being of relatively simple construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a unique game device which is capable of being manufactured economically.

As a further object, the present invention provides a game device which is capable of being played by either children or adults and which is of sufficiently rugged construction as to withstand abuse by children.

More specifically, the present invention provides a unique game device which is designed to be played by two people. The game device includes a playing board having a series of parallel grooves which register with a like series of pockets. A plurality of playing pieces in the form of small metal balls are contained in the grooves and are displaceable into the pockets during the course of playing the game. The grooves and pockets slope downwardly from their junctures located at the median of the board to cause the balls to be biased bygravity into either the grooves or the pockets after being displaced past the median; Each groove is of a different length for containing a different number of balls. The total complement of balls associated with the board may be an odd or an even number. In playing the game, the players take alternate turns in displacing the balls from the grooves and into the pockets with each player being permitted to displace one or more balls from whichever one of the grooves he selects during his turn. The object of the game is for a player to select the number of balls he displaces in such a manner as to require his opponent to displace the last ball when his turn comes so that he is the loser. Of course, the game may be played under another set of rules wherein the winner is the player who plays the last ball. The balls are repositioned in the grooves for starting a new game when the board is pivoted about its median.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a game device em-- bodying the present invention; FIG. 2 is a full size plan view of the game device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along lines 5-5 and 66 respectively of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a game device 10 embodying the present invention. The game device 10'includes a playing board 11 having a generally triangular-shaped plan configuration which is divided by a vertical median M into a first playing zone or position 110 located to the left of the median M and a second playing zone or position 1112 located to the right of the median M. The bottom 12 of the board 11 is flat; however, as best seen in FIG. 4, the first and second playing positions 11a and 111) have surfaces which decline from the median M'.

A series of playing pieces are associated with the board 11 and are displaceable relative thereto from the first position 11a and into the second position 11b. In the illustrated embodiment, the playing pieces include a plurality of small metal balls 13,13 which are disposed in parallel rows and are retained in a series of grooves14, 15, 16 and 17. The grooves 14-17 extend into the first playing position 11a perpendicular to the median M. As best seen in FIG. 5, each groove, such as the groove 14, has a pair of shoulders 18,18 extending lengthwise'thereof for engaging the surfaces of the balls 13,13 to prevent the balls from becoming disassociated from the board 11. Preferably, the groove is sized slightly larger than the diameter of the balls 13,13 in order to permit the balls to roll freely therein. Moreover, it is noted that the distance between the bottoms of the grooves and the surface 110 defining the first playing position is less than the diameter of the balls 13,13 in order to permit the balls 13,13'to project upwardly beyond the playing surface 11a to facilitate dis placement of the balls 13,13 in the grooves such as by means of a pencil 19 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In order to receive the balls when they are displaced into the second playing position 11b, a series of pockets 20, 21, 22 and 23 are associated with the grooves l4, l5, l6 and 17 respectively. Likethe grooves, the pockets 20-23 extendrightward in parallel relation from the vertical median M of the playing board 11 and define continuations of the grooves 14-17, respectively. As best seen in FIG. 4, both the grooves 14-17 and the pockets 20-23 are inclined with respect to the vertical median of the board 11 so that the balls 13,13 are biased by gravity into either the first or second playing positions when they are displaced beyond the median M. It is noted that the surface 11b is imperforate so that the balls 13,13 are completely concealed from view when they are contained in the pockets 20-23 located below the surface 11b.

The lengths of the grooves 14-17 correspond with the lengths of the pockets 20-23 so that the full complement of balls in each groove may be retained in its associated'pocket. Preferably, the grooves are of different lengths for accommodating different quantities of balls, and the lengths of adjacent grooves and pockets decrease in a direction lateral to the path of movement of the balls 13,13. For instance, the groove 14 and its pocket 20 are longer than the adjacent groove 15 and its pocket 21, and so on. In the illustrated embodiment, each groove contains an odd number of balls; however, the total quantity of balls 13,13 associated with the board 11 is an even number. It is noted, however, that each groove may contain either an odd or an even number of balls, and the total quantity of balls associated with the board may be either an odd or an even number. The lengthsof the grooves and pockets measured from the median M are predetermined so that end balls in the grooves 14-17 are'in alignment with one another to the left of the median M at the start of a game.

The game is played according to a fixed set of rules. For instance, the loser may be determined to be the player who is required to displace te last ball into a pocket; or in a variation of the game, the winner may be detennined to be-the player who displaces the last ball into a pocket. In playing the game wherein the loser is the player who plays the last ball, the players take turns in displacing balls into the pockets with each player being permitted to displace as many balls as he chooses from whichever one groove he chooses during each turn. A player soon learns that there are safe and unsafe" combinations of balls and/or grooves which he can leave at the completion of his turn, and he attempts to leave'only those combinations which make it impossible for his opponent to avoid playing the last ball. Of course, in making his selection, the player should attempt to anticipate his opponents reaction to his selection. Accordingly, the player can play the game defensively or offensively in much the same manner as the well-known game of tic-tac-toe is played.

At the completion of a game, the balls.l3,l3-arereposi-- tioned in the grooves 14-17 simply by disposing the board 11 horizontally andpivoting it about its median M to cause the balls 13,13 to roll out of their pockets -23 and into the grooves 14-17.

Although the illustrated embodiment of thepresent invention includes a playing board 11 of wooden con struction with metal balls 13,13, it should be apparent LA game designed to be played by at leasttwoplayers, comprising: a playing board, a series of playing pieces displaceable relative to the board from a first board position to a second board position, a plurality of guide means associated with said playing pieces for directing said pieces in a predetermined path between said first and second board positions, said guide means disposing said playing pieces in rows extending in spaced relation with one another between said first and second positions with each row containing a different number of playing pieces,'retaining means cooperable with said guide means for securing said pieces in playing relationship with said board, and pocket means associated with said guide means and corresponding in number thereto, said pocket means being located at said second position for containing playing pieces displaced into said second position, said guide means and. said pocket means being in registry with one another at a median location and extending away from said median location in opposite directions and sloping downwardly with respect to the'median location for causing said pieces to be biased by gravity into either said first or second positions, so that in'playing the. game the players take turns in displacing selected quantities of the playing pieces into the pocket means with one player displacing the last piece into the pocket means after the other pieces have been so displaced.

2. A gamedevice according to claim 1 wherein said rows are of different lengths for containing said different numbers of playing pieces in abutting relation in each row. I

3. A game device according to claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a plurality of rows extending parallel to one another with the lengths of adjacent rows decreasing in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the playing pieces. I

4. A game device according to claim 3 wherein each row contains an odd number of playing pieces with the total quantity of playing pieces associated with the board being an even number. l

5. A game device accordingto claim 1 whereinsaid playing pieces include balls, said guide means includes a plurality of grooves in said playing board containing said balls, said retaining meansin'cluding shoulders extending lengthwise of said grooves forengaging said balls, and said pocket means includes bores in, said second position of said board in registry with said grooves;

6. A game device according-to claim 5 wherein said board has a surface at 1 said firstposition and said grooves have depths less than thediaineters of the balls so that said balls protrude above the surface to facilitate displacement in the grooves.

7. A'game device according to claim 6 wherein said pocket means is imperforate to conceal said balls when in said second playing position.

8. A game designed to be played by at least two players, comprising: a playing .board, a series of playing pieces of the same size displaceable relative to the board from a first board position to a-second board position, guide means associated with said playing pieces for directing said pieces in a predetermined path between said first and second board positions, said guide means disposing said playing-pieces in rows extending in spaced relationwith one another between said first and second positions with each row containing a differ-.

. ent number of playing pieces, retaining means cooper-- means including a plurality of rows of different lengths,

said rows being dimensioned to contain different numbers of pieces in abutting relation with an end piece being located adjacent the median when the pieces are .all disposed on one side thereof, and said guide and pocket means sloping downwardly in opposite directions with respect to said median forcausing said pieces to be biased by gravity into either said first or second positions, so that in playing the game the players take turns in displacing selected quantities of the playing pieces into the pocket means with one player displacing the last piece into the pocket means after the other pieces have been so displaced. 

1. A game designed to be played by at least two players, comprising: a playing board, a series of playing pieces displaceable relative to the board from a first board position to a second board position, a plurality of guide means associated with said playing pieces for directing said pieces in a predetermined path between said first and second board positions, said guide means disposing said playing pieces in rows extEnding in spaced relation with one another between said first and second positions with each row containing a different number of playing pieces, retaining means cooperable with said guide means for securing said pieces in playing relationship with said board, and pocket means associated with said guide means and corresponding in number thereto, said pocket means being located at said second position for containing playing pieces displaced into said second position, said guide means and said pocket means being in registry with one another at a median location and extending away from said median location in opposite directions and sloping downwardly with respect to the median location for causing said pieces to be biased by gravity into either said first or second positions, so that in playing the game the players take turns in displacing selected quantities of the playing pieces into the pocket means with one player displacing the last piece into the pocket means after the other pieces have been so displaced.
 2. A game device according to claim 1 wherein said rows are of different lengths for containing said different numbers of playing pieces in abutting relation in each row.
 3. A game device according to claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a plurality of rows extending parallel to one another with the lengths of adjacent rows decreasing in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the playing pieces.
 4. A game device according to claim 3 wherein each row contains an odd number of playing pieces with the total quantity of playing pieces associated with the board being an even number.
 5. A game device according to claim 1 wherein said playing pieces include balls, said guide means includes a plurality of grooves in said playing board containing said balls, said retaining means including shoulders extending lengthwise of said grooves for engaging said balls, and said pocket means includes bores in said second position of said board in registry with said grooves.
 6. A game device according to claim 5 wherein said board has a surface at said first position and said grooves have depths less than the diameters of the balls so that said balls protrude above the surface to facilitate displacement in the grooves.
 7. A game device according to claim 6 wherein said pocket means is imperforate to conceal said balls when in said second playing position.
 8. A game designed to be played by at least two players, comprising: a playing board, a series of playing pieces of the same size displaceable relative to the board from a first board position to a second board position, guide means associated with said playing pieces for directing said pieces in a predetermined path between said first and second board positions, said guide means disposing said playing pieces in rows extending in spaced relation with one another between said first and second positions with each row containing a different number of playing pieces, retaining means cooperable with said guide means for securing said pieces in playing relationship with said board, and pocket means associated with said guide means at said second position for containing playing pieces displaced into said second position, said board having a median disposed transversely to said guide and pocket means, and said guide and pocket means being dimensioned lengthwise to accomodate on either side of said median the total number of pieces associated with said board, said guide means including a plurality of rows of different lengths, said rows being dimensioned to contain different numbers of pieces in abutting relation with an end piece being located adjacent the median when the pieces are all disposed on one side thereof, and said guide and pocket means sloping downwardly in opposite directions with respect to said median for causing said pieces to be biased by gravity into either said first or second positions, so that in playing the game the players take turns in displacing selected quantities of the playing pieces into The pocket means with one player displacing the last piece into the pocket means after the other pieces have been so displaced. 